A quick paean to the glories of Kenwood in May – the rhodedendrons and azaleas and the handkerchief tree. The big lawn to the west of Kenwood House is entirely surrounded by mature camellias, magnolias, rhodedendrons and azaleas – so in April and May it is a delight to behold. Apart from the surrounding trees …
Heath Hands happenings
I realise that it is a long time since I logged any of our Heath Hands activities – but that certainly does not mean that we have been slacking. Indeed, I have just returned from the Hill Garden where the pieris to the east of the pond was in full and glorious flower. I was …
Early May garden
I had been planning this morning on getting out onto my big patio at the back of the garden, stripping off the table covering and giving the whole thing a good scrub. But sadly, this morning the sun has disappeared and we are back to grey chill, so here I am at my desk. But …
Unearthing graves
The current policy in Highgate Cemeteries is to do battle with the ivy and brambles which ran riot over the cemetery during its many years of neglect and reveal its graves. I must admit to a certain degree of ambivalence over this. I understand the desire to actually see the graves of the star studded …
The magic of my unfolding ferns
About a week ago I peered out of my bedroom window at my fern bank under the slatted aluminium steps running down from the balcony to the garden. What was going on with those ferns? Not a lot it seemed. Then I noticed what looked like three dead brown fern stalks which I must have …
Tiny and oh so slow signs of spring
Because my garden is almost entirely new I am desperate for the spring to come so that I can see what has survived the winter’s chill. So this morning I braved the rain to make an inventory of what is gingerly poking its nose out into the big bad world. First the resident apple tree …